Call Us
Text Us
Email UsTeen drivers are among the groups with the highest likelihood of being involved in a car accident that leads to a personal injury claim.
In fact, the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16-19-year-olds than among any other age group.
And the accident risk is even higher among teens who have only had their driver’s licenses for a few months.
Unfortunately, things get even worse when you combine teen drivers and alcohol, and here are some of the reasons this is true.
Why Teenage Drinking Increases the Risk of Personal Injury
Teens who drink and drive significantly heighten the risk of causing a car accident, because alcohol impairs perception, eliminates reaction time, negatively impacts short-term memory and concentration, and hampers decision-making.
In 2014, 24 percent of fatal accidents involving drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 were attributed to alcohol, and 17 percent of drivers between the ages of 16 to 20 who were involved in fatal accidents in 2014 had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher.
And because teen drivers are far less experienced on the road, adding alcohol to the mix creates the perfect storm for car accidents.
It’s also important to remember that teen drivers are much less likely to understand the potential consequences of dangerous situations.
So for example, teens are much more likely to speed even when they aren’t impaired by alcohol.
But when they drink to excess, it lowers their inhibitions, triggering feelings of invincibility and risk-taking that overcome logic and reason and cause dangerous behaviors such as speeding, unsafe lane changes, and tailgating.
Preventive Methods To Lower Teen Drinking and Driving
States have implemented regulations to help lower teen drinking and driving including establishing a minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of 21, and making it a crime for any business to sell alcohol to a person under 21.
And the introduction of a graduated driver licensing system (GDL), in which new drivers must earn full driving privileges by demonstrating safe driving habits, has also helped teen drivers become aware of the dangers of drinking and driving.
Helping You Through a Difficult Time
After you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a teen driver, your main focus should be on recovery, but that can only happen if you are confident in the experienced personal injury law firm that you’ve hired to pursue your claim. The attorneys at Rosner Law Offices, P.C. have the expertise and the track record to handle the most difficult and complex accident claims. When you hire our firm, you can leave all the legal work to us and concentrate on getting back on your feet. Please call us today at (856) 502-1655 for a free legal consultation.